Author: Jan Felix Santosa

Progress on FEM Calculations for the fs36

Even though we still aren’t allowed to hang around our workshop, we’re still working intensively on our fs36 project. One section that had a lot of work put into it were the interface between strength verification and load calculation, along with the FEM model. These will be explained in more detail here. In the past…
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Progress on the Winter Maintenance – G109

Last season, our G109 finally hit 3000 flying hours and thus, it requires a service life extension program. To this end, we started a crowdfunding campaign for the overhaul of our G109, during which we earned more than 3500€. We would like to heartily thank all those who donated. The G109 is getting a new…
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Progress on the Winter Maintenance – fs25

The fs25 is our oldest still flying prototype and of course, we wouldn’t forget about or old girl. This year, the fs25 is going to get a new coat of paint! To this end, we spent hours sanding off the old layers of paint. Since we found one or two damaged areas, we also took…
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Progress on the Winter Maintenance – Twin III

This time around, we decided to mount detachable canards onto our Twin III. This would allow heavier pilots to spin the sailplane better, which in turn lets more pilots do spin practices on the Twin. Besides that we also did the usual winter maintenance work, and the plane got new brake pads and a new…
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Operation of the fs36’s Flaps

Our newest project, the fs36, will be a fly-by-wire sailplane with Fowler flaps, an idea first attempted by the Akaflieg Stuttgart with the fs34 Albatross. Generally, sailplanes with a variable wing area are designed to achieve an advantage in thermalling by increasing their wing area, while during high speed flight, the flaps are raised, giving…
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Flutter Tests on the fs33

This year, we continued with flight tests on the fs33 with the new winglets as part of the Idaflieg Summer Meet in Stendal. Since these new winglets alter both the aerodynamics and mass of the wings, flutter tests at speeds above the maximum permissible airspeed of 280 km/h (174 mph) must be done, specifically up…
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First-Aid Course

Those who spend a lot of time together experience many things together, which unfortunately includes things that are rather unpleasant. These are among other things injuries at the workshop or, God forbid, during a flight accident. Both are things one doesn’t necessarily want to experience and thankfully, both are rare occurences, but it doesn’t hurt…
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High-Speed Taxi Tests with the fs35

It was an exciting moment for us; last Tuesday, the test pilot Ingmar Mayerbuch came to Schwäbisch Hall to perform the first high speed taxi tests on the fs35. Before running the tests, Mr. Mayerbuch took a closer look at the plane to make sure everything’s in top shape, inspecting the exterior, interior, and systems…
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A New Tool Cart for the fs35

Do you still remember our crowdfunding campaign of yesteryear? You have all supported us with more than 4400€, that’s just mind-blowing! We would like to thank all our donors again for the generous donations. Of course, we would gladly show you what we did with the money: We treated ourselves to a fully equipped tool…
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Winter Maintenance on the fs31

Currently, we’re hard at work with maintenance on the fs31 “Ferdinand Porsche” so that our beautiful prototype and trainer can fly again this summer. By the way, she’s celebrating her 37th birthday this year and has had more than 22.000 flights so far!